[Possibility of early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathies]

The serum and urine level of beta-2-microglobulin was examined by the authors in different stages of nephropathy of 250 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (I type 178 pts, II type 72 pts). Beta-2-microglobulin values measured in diabetic patients without renal microangiopathy did not show any difference compared with that of the controls. In patients with freshly discovered diabetes mellitus significantly decreased beta-2-microglobulin levels were found, probably due to the increased glomerular filtration rate. Increasing beta-2-microglobulin values indicating an early glomerular lesion--were observed in incipient diabetic nephropathy. These values were significantly higher compared with that of healthy individuals and diabetic patients without renal microangiopathy. In the IV stage of disease the serum and urine beta-2-microglobulin levels were equally found to be elevated, indicating an impaired function of proximal tubuli beside the vascular lesions. The most expressed beta-2-microglobulin value elevations were observed in the stage of nephropathy. The authors emphasize the importance of determination and common evaluation of 24 hours protein excretion and serum urine beta-2-microglobulin values the earliest diagnosis of incipient renal lesion. According to their results, the introduction of this method may be very useful for early indication and follow-up of specific renal complications in diabetes mellitus patients.